Advice for claiming criminal Injuries compensation?

Applepie123_2

Firstly sorry if I am putting this in the wrong place but I can't find anywhere to put it as its of a bit of a sensitive nature.

So for the past 2 years I have been trying to claim for an attack that happened to me and I am having no luck. I have very little information on how my case is going or how long it has been going on for.

In 2010 I was a victim of rape and kidnap. There were 4 other victims and because of collecting statements, evidence ect from all of us it took about a year and a half for the man to be sent to jail. A few months later I found out from a friend that I could claim compensation for what had happened to me.

So two years later, and 4 years after the attack I am still not getting anywhere but today I was told I may not be entitled to anything because I made the claim two years after the incident took place.

Nobody told me I could have made a claim before he was put away. In fact not one person, not the police, not witness protection NOBODY told me I could claim at all, I found out from a friend and it just seems unfair that I could have this taken away from me.

The fact that I have been waiting this long just to hear from them to find out if I can claim or not just feels like they are dragging this out and I haven't fully been able to move on.

Has anyone else had a similar struggle and can help or advise me please?

DS4215

Get legal advice from a lawyer who specializes in obtaining compensation.

Violetta_2

Sorry for what you must have been through, have you looked at the website http://www.justice.gov.uk/victims-and-witnesses/cica/am-i-eligible You may be eligible to apply if:
You have been injured seriously enough to qualify for at least our minimum award (£1,000).
You were injured in an act of violence in England, Scotland or Wales. An offender does not necessarily have to have been convicted of, or even charged with that crime.
You have made your application within two years of the incident that caused your injury. (But we might accept applications outside this limit if exceptional circumstances prevented you from submitting an application earlier).
What if I was injured outside England, Scotland or Wales?
But you will not be eligible if:
You did not report the incident. If the crime for which you are seeking an award has not been reported to the police we cannot make an award.
you were injured before 1 August 1964

So it seems it could still be considered, as DS4215 it's probably worth seeking professional advice.

Counting_Pennies_2

After you have double checked if there is a remote possibility of getting compensation.


I would look into how long it might take.


You need to weigh up what benefit pursuing the claim will have balanced with the stress of reliving the event constantly over a period of time, and how your mental recovery will be helped by it.


Totally different level of seriousness, but I had a car crash and was informed by the insurance company of the person who crashed into me that I could just put in a claim due to the injuries I had received and the fact that it was a blatant fault of the other driver. I had two years of drawn out meetings with insurance assessors, and during this time my anxiety of driving increased, and I am sure it was due to the reliving of the event.


Sometimes it is better to let the event stop and get on with healing yourself.


If you can argue for psychological assistance and have counselling/therapy then push all you can for it, but apart from that I would get on with recovering and putting it behind you